Heathrow tables “congestion” charge idea

HEATHROW AIRPORT has proposed a congestion charge as part of its argument for a third runway to the Airports Commission. The airport has suggested that a fee for cars would help limit the amount of traffic going into the airport should a third runway be built, while also improving air quality for nearby residents.

It comes as the airport hopes to increase the number of passengers travelling to terminals by public transport, particularly as improvements to rail such as Crossrail, High Speed 2 and a revamped Piccadilly Line are underway.

The congestion charge, says Heathrow, would discourage drop-off and pick-up to and from the airport, with some of the funds collected going to public transport schemes.

Go Holiday editor David Kernek writes: It’s obvious that the so-called congestion charge has done nothing at all to reduce traffic congestion in central London; it’s simply a tax, which is precisely what Heathrow’s managers are suggesting – a tax justified by the vague hope that at some unspecified time in the future more people might get to the airport by public transport.

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